WATCH: Van Halen – ‘Running With the Devil’ LIVE @ the 1983 US Festival

‘Running With the Devil’ has to be one of the heartiest songs ever from Van Halen. According to one reviewer, the song kicked off the band’s first album “.. with all the subtlety of a fist upside the head” and that pretty much sums it up. RWD is known for it’s pounding bass/drum/guitar combination, as well as David Lee Roth’s almost painful screams It also proved that lead guitarist and band founder Eddie Van Halen didn’t have to play fast to play well.

Here’s their live performance at the 1983 US Festival, on Sunday, May 29, finishing off what was called the ‘Heavy Metal” Day, which had previously featured Quiet Riot, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Triumph, and the Scorpions. Van Halen reported received $1.5 million to headline the day from Apple co-founder and festival promoter Steve Wozniak. And yes, David Lee Roth may have been a little “under the influence” during the concert, but that didn’t seem to disappoint their fans.